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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 72 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people were dissatisfied with the payment process, noting significant delays in receiving compensation for their work. Customers frequently reported that it takes months to get paid, far exceeding industry standards, and that virtual gift cards, which should be quick, are often delayed. Reviewers also found the company's response time to be very slow, with many experiencing difficulties contacting customer service. They mentioned that reaching a real person for assistance was challenging, often resulting in generic email replies or no response at all, leading to frustration regarding their service experience.

What people talk about most

Payment

Consumers find payment to be a source of significant dissatisfaction. Many reviewers report extremely long... See more

Response time

Customers express significant dissatisfaction with response times. Many report extended waiting periods for... See more

Customer communications

Customers consistently note negative experiences with contact. Many reviewers report that the company does... See more

Customer service

People report negative experiences with customer service, often expressing frustration due to unhelpful and... See more

Service

Users describe negative interactions with service. Many reviewers report extreme disappointment, citing a... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If you do a project with them, expect to be waiting 2 months before you actually get paid. It takes them a couple of weeks to add the incentive to the wallet and then at least 6 more weeks to receive... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

it is so difficult to retrieve the payment via gift card. I waited almost 2 months to get it and then when I finally got it and went through several security password screens it shows PAID and I actu... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I registered couple weeks ago but I got no survey, no invitation, nothing. When I asked them they told me to complete my profile, as a generic response ,which I already did. Instead of this, even si... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

You will not be paid for MONTHS! Horrible and I don't know why clients choose to use them for study's when the participant retention is so terrible. I have arbitrated against companies before for not... See more


1.2

Bad

TrustScore 1 out of 5

225 reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Participants Beware!

Extremely disorganized, lack of communication, and zero accountability. I assume this is a major issue of their restructuring, such as pocketing survey funds and products.
I do not recommend anyone use this "business" due to their lack of professionalism, unethical practices, and improper communication. Every red flag will manifest itself in the first two or three interactions with Sago. They utilize FocusGroup.com to find their participants and demonstrate no professionalism. To ANY company using their services, it reflects on your products, services, and brands. Good luck to you.

1 May 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don't waste your time

Don't waste your time. They scam you out of your time and money. I worked hard for weeks for them to just give me the run around when it was time to pay. I did the study in March and it's now May and I still have not gotten paid!

6 May 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scam?

I participated in Sago's activities and
redeemed $125 on March 28th.
Despite their 20-day payment promise, it's been 25 days with no payment. I've emailed twice, receiving the same 20-day response. This delay is unacceptable, and seem to be doing this to alot of people

22 April 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I have serious complaints against this…

I have serious complaints against this company. Since they took over for Sago I have to send multiple emails and complaints in order to try to get my payment “processed “ and currently the owe me $449 which I submitted back on 3/15/24 and am still waiting to be paid for after 3 emails and a month waiting and I only got one response stating it could take up to 20 business days, which it never took before. With Schlesinger, I never waiting l waited longer than 2 days for my payment. I did another focus group with them last week which I haven’t even submitted yet, but I think when I do finally get paid from them I’m going to tell them next time I won’t do it because I had to go through so much trouble and stress and hard work to get my payment and I still haven’t gotten it! Do not do focus groups or surveys for them unless you want to beg for your money!

15 March 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

HAD TO FILE A BBB COMPLAINT TO RECEIVE PAYMENT

When this company was Focus Group by Schlesinger I did several market research studies with them and was paid promptly. Apparently the ownership changed and now they do something akin to "bait and switch" in terms of recruiting people for studies, then taking forever to pay them and/or trying to reduce the amount of the payment to them.

I did an online study and had to email them several times then contact them through their site to finally get a response and they issued my incentive finally a few days later in my online wallet, but then said it would take 20 business days to "process" a virtual visa card. I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint, (where I saw MANY existing complaints against them) and emailed them saying I had. They "processed" and issued my virtual card the next day. Anybody on this site reviewing them, do the same if you've not been paid. They respond to that.

10 April 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do not do surveys with them

Do not do surveys with them. If you do they will contact you multiple times a day to "get caught up" "Complete the surveys in you assignments" "you have not logged in today, complete the assignment for today" 15 day later survey is complete, however they will not pay in a timely manner. They hound you multiple times a day but do not pay in a timely manner.

1 April 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Financial BULLIES

Absolutely the worst financial institution I have ever had the misfortune to work with. Christina calls back to back, texts over and over, and even had the nerve to start calling my 9 year old's phone to try to get in contact with me when I was late making a payment. Sago literally harasses you until you want to blow your own brains out. I am literally voluntarily repoing my RV just to get out from under these people. I would rather be homeless than have to deal with the harassing phone calls, emails, and texts. I even explained to them that they were about to get me fired from my new job for continuously calling back to back (literally wait for voicemail to pick up, hang up and call right back MULTIPLE times over). If I could give a negative 5 star review I would. These people are literal BULLIES!

29 March 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sago does bad business

Sago does bad business. They allow people to accumulate points on their website without a dollar amount attached to it so when you try to redeem your points, you don't receive your payment. I have been waiting over 30 BUSINESS days for a $25 virtual gift card. Instead of fixing the issues they are still asking people to participate in focus groups and surveys even though they claim they are having difficulty making the payments to the folks like me that are still waiting for payment.

1 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

dont waste your time with this company

This company is a waste of your time! A lot of people like myself do surveys to make a extra few dollars to take care of oourselves this company sago definitely plays with your time. Why still advertise Pais surveys when yall struggling to pay us? I'm still waiting on payment in four days it makes a month payment is still processing like why I have bills! Don't waste time with them you'll be waiting forever for money that's rightfully yours.

21 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Apparently a multitude of people are…

Apparently a multitude of people are having the same problem. This is 2024 there is no way a legitimate company will take weeks and in some cases month to compensate you when it could be done practically instantly. I wonder do the companies that pay Sago to do the surveys know that they are not properly or in a timely manner compensating people.

9 March 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If I could givei zero stars I would…

If I could givei zero stars I would steer clear of this company don't ever ever do any work for or with this company they DO NOT PAY you for the work you sign up for they are extremely available when they call and call and call you to sign you up but the minute the work is done and you're wanting to get paid for the amount they agreed to pay you there's nobody to be found.They don't answer their phones. They don't reply to email. They promise the sun moon and stars and when you submit for payment it says PROCESSING for weeks and weeks and weeks. I've and waited and waited to get paid and I will keep doing this until they finally pay me what I'm owed.

28 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They used to be a trusted market…

They used to be a trusted market research company and one of my favorite companies to work with as a participant. Unfortunately, something changed and the time frame in which they pay out incentive payments is very long and differs greatly from the "norm". Support doesn't answer emails and if you get your hands on them, you will get a canned response about them "working on it". There are many, many other more trustworthy and reputable companies out there to work with instead.

6 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No payment

I participated in a study in November 2023. I even had to spend a little money, but it was a time consuming study. I never received the $250 incentive (Amazon gift card). Beware of the online studies.

15 November 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They Don’t Pay in a Timely Manner!

Sago is a horrible company in terms of how they treat their survey project participants. Once a project is completed, most market research companies pay their participants within one week of the completion of the project. Many pay within 48 hours. Sago has huge problems with its payment program. It takes 2+ months to get paid and that’s if you contact them religiously. Not only did I contact their help center, I emailed the CEO and I filed a complaint with the BBB of New Jersey (where their headquarters are located. Eventually I got paid. I’ll never participate in their market research again.

12 January 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Horrible payment experience

Your instructions on the payment process indicate that within 2 weeks of completing the interview or focus group I would receive an email with a link to the Focus Group wallet portal. I never received such link because the wallet portal is a self service process. I emailed several staff members several times and they never responded. I called several times and was never able to someone to answer the phone. Once I was able to submit my payout request it took 20 days to process my virtual request. After participating in a focus group it took me over 2 months to receive my virtual incentive which is absolutely ridiculus and unacceptable.

7 December 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY

Just unbelievable. I begged for over 2 months for my visa gift card. When Iwas forced to use threats of reporting them after 2 additional weeks I was finally sent my gift card for 200. Thank God I spent most of it right away because on the 3rd day the last 13 dollars was hacked from my visa card and was told they can do nothing about it. Never again will I go to Sago.

15 February 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sago is worthless for participants

Sago is completely worthless and time wasting for participants. Two times I've gone in for participation in a research study and both times there have been "issues" with payment. They pay you through what they call their "Sago wallet" through focus group.com, but it's not possible to log in to the website and then it's another round of jumping through hoops (from what I've been told, I wouldn't know because I can't seem to ever get logged in to get paid) to actually get payment. It's not worth the time or energy participating in their research groups because the compensation just isn't worth the hassle required to get it. Worst experience I've ever had in participation in any focus group and I've been doing this for over 20 years. Unprofessional and unacceptable.

12 February 2024
Unprompted review

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